Operations Program Manager

BROOKS AUTOMATION MALAYSIA SDN. BHD.; Johor Bahru; On-site; MYR 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading manufacturing company is looking for an Operations Program Manager in Johor Bahru, Malaysia. The ideal candidate will coordinate projects, manage teams, and drive operational efficiency within a new factory. They will be responsible for maintaining quality, managing supply chain readiness, and ensuring timely delivery to clients. Candidates should have a Bachelor's degree in Engineering or Operations Management, 5-7 years of relevant experience, and strong leadership skills. This role offers an excellent opportunity to impact manufacturing in the semiconductor sector.

Qualifications

• 5-7 years of experience in Program or Project management within Semiconductor or High-Tech manufacturing.
• Experience in managing complex projects and cross-functional teams.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes and ISO standards.

Responsibilities

• Lead operational planning for new orders and projects.
• Develop project schedules ensuring timely, within-scope delivery.
• Ensure material readiness for production.

Skills

Project management

Cross-functional team leadership

Data analysis

Lean manufacturing

Problem-solving

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations Management, or related field

Master’s degree or PMP / Lean Six Sigma certification

Job description

Overview

As the Operations Program Manager at Brooks Automation Malaysia, you play a pivotal role in coordinating and managing the execution of projects and operational programs within our brand-new factory in Johor Bahru, driving efficiency, quality, and performance of the manufacturing processes. You will coordinate with various teams and resources to ensure that production targets and operational goals are met while maintaining high standards of quality, cost-effectiveness, and compliance. The Operations Program Manager is expected to be a key driver of efficiency and performance within the facility and instrumental in ensuring that the operations team meets its goals in productivity, cost control, and quality, ultimately supporting the company's growth and competitiveness in the semiconductor market.

Key Responsibilities

• Programs and Projects Planning & Execution Management:
• Lead end-to-end operational planning for new, transfers and customer orders.
• Develop programs and project schedules from initiation to completion, ensuring they are delivered on time, within scope, and within budget and resources.
• Translate customer orders and work with cross-functional teams into executable factory and supply chain plans.
• Drive schedule adherence and proactively resolve blocking issues.
• Track key performance indicators (KPIs), analyze production metrics, and report progress to the Operations Director. Identify areas for improvement and implement corrective actions when necessary.
• Cross‑Functional Leadership:
• Act as the primary operations focal between Engineering, Manufacturing, Warehouse, Supply Chain and Quality.
• Facilitate daily/weekly cross-functional meetings to drive programs and projects progress.
• Escalate and coordinate resolution of any impacts in achieving programs and projects delivered on time.
• Material & Supply Chain Readiness:
• Ensure long‑lead and critical parts are planned, purchased and delivered per build schedule including work closely with procurement on supplier commitments, expedite actions and risk mitigation.
• Maintain a material readiness dashboard (critical shortages, risks, recovery plans).
• Evaluate supply chain capacity and readiness for new product introduction or volume ramps.
• Manufacturing & Production Support:
• Align production priorities to meet customer shipment commitments.
• Work with Production Supervisors and Planners on manpower planning, line capacity including Assembly, Test, Inspection and Packing readiness and build sequence.
• Monitor build progress, drive WIP aging reduction and clear factory roadblocks during assembly/integration.
• Quality & Compliance:
• Coordinate containment actions and root cause analyses for production or customer-facing issues.
• Work with Quality Engineers and Manufacturing Engineers to achieve high quality output through high first pass yield, low defects, and rework rate.
• Ensure compliance with safety, EHS and customer-specific requirements on cleanliness and contamination control.
• Engineering Change & Non-Conformance Management:
• Work with Engineering Change Analyst to plan cut-in strategy for Engineering Change Orders while minimizing cost and disruption.
• Work with Material Review Analyst for non-conformance material disposition on time, drive recovery and minimize cost impacts.
• Ensure minimum impact on ongoing builds, supply chain, and installed base.
• New Product Introduction:
• Lead operational readiness for new or transfers of programs and projects.
• Coordinate operational validation builds, qualification builds, factory learning cycles and manufacturability feedback to cross functional teams.
• Identify risks in cost, manufacturability, supply chain, and scalability.
• Customer Delivery & Satisfaction:
• Ensure on-time shipment, documentation readiness (quality report and shipment document) and logistics coordination.
• Provide internal and external customers with progress updates (timeline, risks, mitigations).
• Manage post‑shipment actions including issue resolution.
• Track programs and projects cost performance vs. budget (material, labor, outsourced processes).
• Support cost reduction initiatives including cost of quality, supplier optimization, and factory efficiency improvements.
• Analyze variance: PPV, labor efficiency, scrap, rework and freight cost.
• Risk Management & Escalation:
• Maintain a structured risk register covering supply chain, technical, quality, and factory constraints.
• Mitigate risks with clear owners, timelines, and action plans.
• Any other duties as assigned

Qualifications & Competencies

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations Management, or a related field; Master’s degree or PMP (Project Management Professional) / Lean Six Sigma certification is a plus.
• Minimum of 5-7 years of experience in Program or Project management within a Semiconductor or High-Tech manufacturing environment.
• Experience in managing cross-functional teams and leading complex projects is preferred.
• Strong understanding of semiconductor manufacturing processes, equipment, ISO standards, production planning, Lean Manufacturing principles and any other Continuous Improvement methodologies.
• Ability to analyze data, identify trends, and make data-driven decisions to optimize manufacturing operations.
• Excellent leadership and organizational skills to manage projects, influence cross-functional teams, and drive results.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills to effectively interact with team members, stakeholders, and senior management.
• Proactive problem-solving skills with the ability to handle unexpected challenges and make quick, effective decisions.
• High level of attention to detail, ensuring that program details are managed with accuracy and precision.
• High energy with the desire to drive change and create a world class manufacturing operation.

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